The purpose of the Student Emergency Fund (SEF) is to offer financial assistance to students who encounter acute and unexpected difficulties during their time of study in UCD. Illnesses, bereavement and sudden unemployment are some of the issues which may make you eligible for support from the SEF.
To make an application to the SEF, you must clearly demonstrate the acute and unexpected aspects of your circumstances. Ongoing low income does not, in and of itself, qualify you for SEF assistance. SEF applications are considered by a committee which meets regularly throughout the academic year.
Who can apply?
You must be registered to a UCD programme of at least one year’s duration, and which leads to either an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification.
HEAR students should contact UCD Access and Lifelong Learning if they are experiencing financial difficulty. UCD Access and Lifelong Learning staff can discuss the financial supports available to HEAR students.
Undergraduate applications to the SEF are not normally considered outside of the Autumn and Spring trimesters. Applications from students who are registered for the Summer trimester and who meet SEF criteria will be considered.
How do I apply?
To make an application, follow these steps:
Step 1: Meet with your Student Adviser or Chaplain
Before making an application, you must meet with your Student Adviser or Chaplain to discuss your circumstances. Your Student Adviser or Chaplain will be able to support you during the application process and answer questions you may have. They will review your completed application before you submit it. Your application cannot be processed by the committee without this step having been completed.
Step 2: Download and complete SEF Budget Page
Download the SEF Budget page, complete it and save it to your own device. You will upload it to your online application before submission.
Step 3: Create your application and write your personal statement
Follow these steps:
Go to your SISweb > Programme Services > Welfare and Assistance > Emergency Fund Application > Click to make Emergency Fund Application
Complete your personal statement, giving details of why you require assistance from the SEF. This statement forms a crucial part of your application so you should take some time to complete it. As part of it, you must answer the following questions.
- Has something sudden and unexpected occurred?
- What is the nature of the unexpected circumstances?
- When did it/they occur? Was it during the current academic year or did the situation predate it?
- What has been the financial impact of these circumstances?
- Financial sustainability
- Did you have a sustainable financial plan in place until this happened? Can you describe this plan?
- Please give details of how you have funded your studies to date. This may include SUSI grant, employment, family financial support, etc.
- Please outline your family circumstances, paying particular attention to those which are relevant to this application.
- What other sources of financial support have you considered? Why are they insufficient/inadequate?
- Level of financial assistance being sought
- How much money are you requesting?
- What is the rationale for the amount being sought?
- How will any funding contribute towards your education?
- Have you previously applied to/received funding from the SEF, either this year or in previous years?
- If you have received SEF assistance in the past, what was the amount, and for what purpose was it awarded?
Step 4: Select advocate and upload budget page
Once you have completed your personal statement, you must select the relevant Student Adviser or Chaplain as your advocate. You should also upload your completed budget page before submitting your application.
Step 5: Submit application
Submit your application electronically by clicking the “Submit” button.
NB: You must tell your Student Adviser or Chaplain that you have submitted your application. They will then review it, write a note of support, and, if it is complete, forward it to the SEF Committee for consideration.
Please note:
- The UCD SEF is open to applications from all UCD students registered to a full-time course of at least one year in duration.
- The monies in the fund are available for students who, because of unforeseen circumstances and a lack of means, find themselves in financial difficulty.
- The SEF Committee meets approximately every two weeks during the Autumn and Spring trimesters. Undergraduate applications are not normally considered outside of these trimesters. Applications from students who are registered for the Summer trimester and who meet the criteria for the SEF will be considered.
- The SEF Committee may occasionally ask to see receipts that relate to your application. If you have receipts that you believe will support your application, please feel free to attach this as part of your application or keep them in case the SEF Committee requests them.
If you have any questions, please contact your Student Adviser or Chaplain.